Clothes-washing machine



Aug. m, 1%8. D. K. FERRIS CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1944 1mg, W, W48. D. K. FERRIS 2,446,750

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,446,750 CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINE Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 3, 1944, Serial No. 529,331

4 Claims. 1

Thi invention relates to clothes washing machines and more particularly to washing machines.

An object of this invention is to improve the washing action of a washing machine of the type in which an agitator is vertically reciprocated, by improving its construction and operation.

Another object of this invention is to improve the washing action in a washing machine, in which the agitator is vertically reciprocated, in such a manner as to reduce and minimize the tangling of clothes during the washing action.

Another object of this invention is to improve the washing action, in a washing machine of the type in which the agitator is vertically reciprocated, by reducing the speed differential of the agitator near one limit of its reciprocation as compared to the speed differential near the other In addition, because f the specific embodiments used to accomplish the foregoing purposes and objects, this invention provides a construction, in the vertical reciprocating agitator type of washing machine, which prevents breakage due to unyielding objects, such as buttons or the like, This advantage is obtained because of the yielding connection between the agitator and the driving mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a. preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical cross-sectional View of a washing machine embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a reciprocation curve corresponding limit or as compared to that produced by a simo th agitator mOtiOII in ple crank and connecting rod, more specifically 3 S ows the r m portion of an agitator S this reduction in speed diiferential taking place ilar to t at Sho on g. but slightly modinear the lower limit of the reciprocation. By

speed differential is meant the change in 'decel- Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a eration and acceleration which occurs as the agislight y different embodiment from that shown tator approaches and passes beyond its lower in Fi 1;

limit of reciprocation. Fig. 5 is a reciprocation curve of the agitator The washing action of my improved washing nd ecce t c p o ce by e embodiment machine is characterized by the fact that the Shown n g.

major portion of the clothes being washed are A Wash ng machine which embodies the forecaused to float in the upper part of the body of liquid with only a minor portion of the clothes being circulated in the lower part of the body of washing liquid, this floating action allowing the clothes to untangle themselves as the washing action progresses, so that any article of clothing may be freely lifted out in an untangled condition, with very little effort. This improvement, I believe, is due to the fact that the agitator is moved quickly towards the bottom of the tub, thus producing a very violent ejection of water radially from between the .agitator and the bottom of the tub. As the agitator reaches its lower limit of reciprocation, its speed differential is reduced materially (below the normal speed differential in the motion of the usual crank and connecting rod of the same amplitude), and this delaying or dwelling action permits the violently ejected water to propel the clothes away from the agitator and towards the surface of the main body of washing liquid before the agitator begins its fast upward motion. This action causes the clothes to unspiral and untangle themselves as they float near the surface of the liquid.

going principles of my invention may includ a tub having a cylindrical side wall Illa and a rounded bottom wall Ila. These walls are adapted to contain a main body of washing liquid. This body of liquid, with the clothes to be washed, preferably should be at a, level indicated by the dotted line l2a, while the agitator I3a is stationary, which assumes an upper surface substantially as indicated by the dotted line Ha, while the agitator is reciprocating. The clothes or the like, which are to be washed, are placed in the main body of liquid within the tub.

The agitator l3a preferably is a small, rigid, cone-shaped, downwardly directed agitator, which has imparted thereto a series of relatively short reciprocations having a relatively fast downward stroke and a delaying action at the lower limit of said reciprocations. Reciprocations of this character, when they are imparted to an agitator, reciprocating near the bottom of the tub, substantially as illustratedQproduce an improved turbulent action in the main body of liquid of such a character as to cause the main portion of clothes to float apparently near the surface of the main body of liquid, while a gradual guano 3 toroidal action is imparted to the main body. However, this motion so distributes the clothes within the main body liquid, that any one article of clothing may be removed from the main body of liquid with very little effort. Practically no effort is required to untangle it from the other articles of clothing. This action is distinguished from that produced by an agitator which has motion imparted to it by the usual crank and connecting rod, by the fact that the mass of clothes are not formed into a compact ring-like mass near the agitator and are not spiralled and wrapped around each other as is the case with an agitator having the usual crank and connecting rod drive.

The reason for this improved washing action, I now believe, is due to the fact that the agitator is moved downwardly at an increased speed (as compared to motion imparted by the usual crank and connecting rod) until it is near the bottom of the tub. This produces a violent radial election of liquid which propels any articles of clothing which may be near the bottom of the tub, violently away from the agitator and upwardly to near the surface of the liquid. The delaying or dwelling action of the agitator nearits lower limit of reciprocation permits then-liquid election to propel the clothes substantially away from the agitator before the agitator begins the rapid portion of its upward stroke.

The washing machine may include a supporting structure such as legs 25a, cylindrical apron 26a, and a cross channel member 21a. This supporting structure may support the tub lOa by means of a rubber-like ring 28a at the upper end of apron 26a. The channel 21a may support an upwardly extending ring 29a which is secured to a. centralopening 30a in the bottom of the tub. A flexible bellows 3| may be secured to the ring 29 by a wire ring 32a and may extend upwardly andmay be secured to a disc 330 on the plunger 53.

By way of example, the tub Illa may be 23" in diameter and 18" in height from its lowest portion near the opening 30a to its highest portion at the rim 35a. The agitator may have a coneshaped bottom I3ma at 45 degrees to the horizontal, and may be 10" in diameter at the bead 36a. The cylindrical body line, at the upper portion of the agitator, may be 3" in diameter. The bead 36a, at the lower portion of the agitator, may be spaced from /5" to /4" above the bottom of the tub, when the agitator is at its lowest position, and the reciprocation may have an amplitude of 2%". The shaft 50 may be rotated approximately at 280 revolutions per minute and may be provided with a eounterbalancing flywheel (not shown) of suflicient weight to insure substantially uniform rotation of shaft 50.

With the foregoing dimensions, the machine operates most satisfactorily with approximately 6 lbs. (dry weight) of clothes, and with approximately 18 gallons of water in the tub.

This type of motion imparts an increased turbulence to the liquid and clothes. and the clothes can be seen to be freely suspended in the wa- The shaft it drives a circular eccentric cam il, connecting rod 52, plunger 53 and supporting rod 50. The plunger 83 reciprocates in a bearing structure Ila supported on the channel member 210.. A disc 5! is fixed to the rod 54. Two springs '56 and S1 bear against the disc 5!, surround the rod 54, and also bear against the rings II and 5! which are secured to the agitator a. and are slidably supported on the rod 54. When the shaft 50 is rotated at uniform.speed. by a motor and flywheel, not shown, the rod 64 produoes substantially a harmonic curve as indicated at 60 in Fig. 2. This substantially harmonic motion is imparted to the center of the spring structure 58. 51. The spring structure 56, I1 causes the agitator Ila to lag behind in its reciprocation and to produce the curve SI of Fig. 2. The portions 62 of curve 60 indicate the downstrokes of the rod while the portions 83 indlca-te its up-strokes. Likewise the portions 4 of .the curve SI indicate the down-strokes of agitator Ila, while the portions 65 indicate its upstrokes. Because of the reaction of the cone lime, and the bottom wall Ila of the -tub,.in trapping the liquid, the agitator has a slower acceleration and deceleration (speed differential) near the lower limit of its reciprocation than the substantially harmonic motion of the usual crank or eccentric and connecting rod drive and is also materlally slower than the motion near its upper limit of reciprocation. This is indicated, respectively, by the gentle curves 66 at the lower limits of curve SI and by the sharp curves II at the upper limit of the reciprocation.

The springs 55 and 51 have a coemcient of compression of 60 lbs. per lineal inch. and each spring is initially compressed 1", so that each spring exerts a push of 60 lbs. on the washers 5i and 59 respectively. while the agitator is stationary. The agitator Iia may have a weight of 2.4 lbs. and the cam 5|, which preferably is rotated at 280 R. P. M., may impart a total amplitude of 1%" to the rod 54. When the tub is filled with 18 gallons of water and 6 lbs. (dry weight) of clothes. the reactions of the weight of the agitator, resistance of the water and the like, causes the agitator to lag behind the reciprocation of the rod 54 and to have a reciprocation amplitude of about 2%", as indicated by the curve GI in Fig. 2.

Because of the resilient connection between the agitator Ita and driving mechanism 5| no breakage is likely to occur if a large button or the like should become lodged under the agitator.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the tub is provided with side and bottom walls Ilb, Ilb

and is filled to level I2b with a body of washing liquid, which has an upper surface Ilb when the agitator 13b is reciprocated. The washing machine is provided with a supporting structure 25b, Iib, 21b, 28b, 29b, opening 30!), flexible bellows Mb, wire ring 32b and plate 33b, all substantially the same as the corresponding parts in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, however, the agitator lib is reciprocated by a different mechanism, which produces substantially the same type of reciprocation as heretofore described with respect to Fig. 1. This includes a rotatable shaft III, carried in bearings rigidly mounted on the supporting structure of the washing machine, and driven by a motor and flywheel, not shown. The shaft II drives a circular eccentric cam ll, connecting rod 12 and reciprocating plunger I8, which reciprocates in the stationary bearing structure Ilb. The connecting rod I2 is connected to the plunger 1! by 5. the pin 14. The plunger 13 has fixed thereto end rings I 6 .and 16. Supporting rod 11 is slidably mounted on the ring 15' and in the upper bearing structure 18 of the ring 16. A ring 19 is flxed on the rod 11. Springs 80 and BI are placed between the ring I9 and the rings l and 16 respectively. These springs each have a coefllcient of compression of 60 lbs. per lineal inch, and each spring is initially compressed 1", so that each spring exerts a push of 60 lbs. on the rings and I6 respectively, while the agitator is stationary. The agitator l3b may have a weight of 2.4 lbs. and the cam H, which preferably is rotated at 280 R. P. M., may impart a total amplitude of 1%" to the plunger 13; When the tub is filled with 18 gallons of water and 6 lbs. (dry weight) oi clothes, the reactions of the weight of the agimovably supported means actuated by said mechanism, driven means connected to said agitator and actuated by said movably supported means, and resilient means interconnecting said movably supported means and said driven means to give flexibility to the reciprocatory movement of said agitator.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tub having side and bottom walls adapted to contain a body of washing fluid and clothes, an agitator mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in the central portion of said tub close to its bottom wall, said agitator bein small relative to said tub and being substantially cone-shaped with the large end of the cone directed downwardly, and means to impart short,

tator, resistance of the water and the like, causes 7 the agitator to lag behind the reciprocation of the plunger 13 and to have an amplitude of about 2%".

The reciprocation curve of plunger 13 is indicated at 90 in Fig. 5. The spring structure 80 and 8!, causes the agitator to produce the curve 9|. The portions 92 of curve 90 indicate the downstrokes of the plunger 13, while the portions '93 indicate its lip-strokes. Likewise the portions 84 of the curve 9i indicate the down-strokes of the agitator l3b, while the portions 95 indicate its up-strokes. Because of the reaction ofthe cone l3mb, and the bottom wall lib of the tub, in trapping the liquid, the agitator has a slower acceleration and deceleration (speed difierential) near the lower limit of its reciprocation than the substantially harmonic motion of the usual crank or eccentric and connecting rod and is also materially slower than the motion near its upper limit of reciprocation. This is indicated, respectively, by the gentle curves 96 at the lower limits of the curve 90 and by the sharp curves 91 at the upper limit.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the

size of the tub and the agitator are substantially the same as in Fig. 1. Accidental breakage, by buttons or the like, is also prevented in this modi;

flcation by the resilient connection between the agitator and driving mechanism.

If desired, the lower portion of the agitator of Fig. 4 may be provided with a'flexible cone edge instead of the head 36!), as indicated in Fig. 3.

While the forms of the invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tub having side and bottom walls adapted to contain a body of washing fluid and clothes. an agitator mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in the central portion of said tub close to its bottom wall, said agitator being small relative to said tub and being substantially cone-shaped with the large end of the cone directed downwardly, and means to impart'short, rapid, vertical reciprocations to said agitator with a motion delayed near the lower limit of the reciprocations to a greater extent than the motion produced by the usual crank and connecting rod drive. said means including mechanism to produce short, rapid, reciprocatory motion with a greater dwell at the lower limit of reciprocation than at the upper limit and a. lost-motion resilient device actuated by said mechanism to reciprocate said agitator, and said device havin rapid, vertical reciprocations to said agitator with a motion delayed near the lower limit of the reciprocations to a greater extent than the motion produced by the usual crank and connecting rod drive, said means including mechanism to produce reciprocatory motion of the usual crank and connecting rod type with a greater dwell at the lower limit of reciprocation than at the upper limit, and a lost-motion resilient device for transmitting the motion produced by said mechanism to said agitator and for modifying it, and said device having movably supported means connected to said mechanism, driven means connected to said agitator and movable relative to said movably supported means, and resilient means interconnecting said, movably supported means and said driven means for moving said driven means flexibly relative to said movably supported means.

3. Apparatus of-the character describedcomprising a tub having side and bottom walls adapted to contain a body of washing fluid and clothes, an agitator mounted for vertical reciprocatory .movement in the'central portion of said tub close to its bottom wall, said agitator being small relative to said tub and being substantially cone-shape with the large end of the cone directed downwardly, and means to impart short, rapid. vertical reciprocations to said agitator with a motion delayed near the lower limit 01 the reciprocations to a greater extent than the motion produced by the usual crank and connecting rod drive, said means including mechanism to produce reciprocatory motion of the usual crank and connecting rod type with a greater dwell at the lower limit of reciprocation than at the upper limit, and a lost-motion resilient device for transmitting the motion produced by said mechanism to said agitator and for modifying it, and said device having slidably supported means connected to said mechanism, driven means connected to said agitator and extending. slidably in said slidably supported means, and resilient m'eans under compression interconnecting said slidably supported means and said driven means for moving said driven means flexibly relative to said slidably supported means and thereby rendering the reciprocatory movement of said agitator flexible.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tub having side and bottom walls adapted to contain a body of washing fluid and clothes, an agitator mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in the central portion of said tub close to its bottom wall, said agitator being small relative to said tub and being substantially coneshaped with the large end of the cone directed downwardly, and means to impart short, rapid,

vertical reciprocations to said agitator with a ciprocations to a greater extent than the motion produced by the usual crank and connecting rod drive, said means including mechanism to produce reciprocatory motion of the usual crank and connecting rod type with a greater dwell at the lower limit of reciprocation than at the upper limit, and a lost-motion resilient device for transmitting the motion produced by said mechanism to said agitator and for modifying it, and said device having a movably supported means connected to and actuated by said mechanism. driven means ilxed to said agitator and movable relative to said movably supported means. and a plurality of resilient means interconnecting said movably supported means and said driven means for moving said agitator resiliently both upwardly and downwardly.

DONALD K. FERRIB.

8 ammces men The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,295,099 Hedges Feb. 18, 1919 1,385,905 D8 008%!!! July 19, 1921 1,40 ,5 8 Heinrich Mar. '1, 1922 1,536,051 Altorfer May 5, 1925 1,638,308 Milller May 5, 1925 9,275,444 Kuhn Mar. 10, 1942 9,283,339 Kuhn May 12, 194 2 roman mm'rs Number Country Date 921,301 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1924 429,644 Great Britain 1935 

